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Enable digital signage mode on Apple TV

How to Enable Digital Signage Mode on Apple TV

Let your Kitcast app be launched automatically when the Apple TV is on

Step 0 — Requirements

  1. USB-C cable (Apple TV 4G only) / Ethernet cable (Apple TV 4G and Apple TV 5G (4K))
  2. Apple Configurator 2 installed on your Mac

Step 0.5 — Pairing your Device via Ethernet — only for users of Ethernet pairing

  1. Your Mac and Apple TV are connected to the same network
  2. Apple TV is connected to the network using Ethernet
  3. The device should be on and displaying “Pair Your Remote” screen. To do so start with an Apple TV that hasn’t been set up, or erases it first. To erase go to Settings > System > Reset.
  4. On your Mac, launch Apple Configurator
  5. In your menu bar, open Apple Configurator 2 > Paired Devices…
  6. Select your Apple TV in the Paired Devices list, then click Pair
  7. On your Mac, enter the 6 digit pin that appears on the screen of your Apple TV
  8. Close Paired Devices window

Step 1 — Enable supervised mode on your Apple TV

Warning! This will erase your device!

  1. Launch Apple Configurator

Launch Apple Configurator - Kitcast Support

  1. Connect your device to your Mac via USB-C cable (skip if using Ethernet pairing)
Connect your device to your Mac via USB-C cable - Kitcast Support
  1. Select your device
  2. Click ‘Prepare’ button

Select your device - Kitcast Support

  1. Click ‘Next’ button
Click ‘Next’ button - Kitcast Support
  1. Click ‘Next’ button, again:
Click ‘Next’ button, again - Kitcast Support
  1. If you have already created your organization, select it here, if not, go ahead and select “New Organization”:
  2. If your organization is a member of Apple Device Enrollment program, log in here, if not, click ‘Skip’:

If your organization is a member of Apple Device Enrollment program - Kitcast Support

  1. Enter your organization name, click ‘Next’:
Enter your organization name, click ‘Next’ - Kitcast Support
  1. Select ‘Generate a new supervision identity’ and click ‘Next’:
Select ‘Generate a new supervision identity’ and click ‘Next' - Kitcast Support
  1. Select the steps that would be available in Setup Assistant, if you’re using your Apple TV only for Digital Signage, the following settings would be OK:
  2. Click ‘Prepare’

Setup Assistant - Kitcast Support

  1. Use Touch ID or enter your password when requested
  2. If you get a message saying the device is already prepared, click ‘Erase’ to erase and prepare device again.

Use Touch ID or enter your password when requested - Kitcast Support

Step 2 – Set up your device

  1. When the ​device is restarted, pair your remote by tapping on it

How to Enable Digital Signage Mode on Apple TV

  1. Connect to your Wi-Fi network (if not using wired connection)
How to Enable Digital Signage Mode on Apple TV
  1. Login in to your Apple ID (pro-tip: At this point, you can already use Apple TV Remote app or iOS 11 built-in Apple TV Remote for faster credential input)

How to Enable Digital Signage Mode on Apple TV

Step 3 – Install Kitcast

  1. Open App Store on your device

Open App Store on your device - Kitcast Support

  1. Go to ‘Search’ tab

How to Enable Digital Signage Mode on Apple TV

  1. Enter KITCAST in the search field
How to Enable Digital Signage Mode on Apple TV
  1. Tap on the Kitcast icon
How to Enable Digital Signage Mode on Apple TV
  1. Tap ‘Install’ ( and after you will be able to activate Apple TV Kiosk Mode)

Step 4 – Enable Single App Mode on your Apple TV

  1. Go back to Apple Configurator 2 on your Mac, you should see your newly prepared device under ‘Supervised’ tab.

you should see your newly prepared device under ‘Supervised’ tab - Kitcast Support

  1. Right-click on your Device and select ‘Advanced > Start Single App Mode…’
Right-click on your Device and select ‘Advanced > Start Single App Mode…’ - Kitcast Support
  1. In the next window, select Kitcast from the list and click ‘Select App’
In the next window, select Kitcast from the list and click ‘Select App’ - Kitcast Support
  1. Apple TV screen will flicker and Kitcast will start, you’re done.
Apple TV screen will flicker and Kitcast will start, you’re done - Kitcast Support

Step 5 (Optional) – Streamlining the process

If you find this process too cumbersome or labor-intensive, e.g. when you have more than a couple of devices, we provide integration with MDM providers (like JAMF) and support for mass deployment and registration of devices (skipping the installation from App Store and the Setup Code phase altogether).

So if you’d like that, please contact us, we’re glad to help.